The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) recognizes the right of media colleagues to ask the hard questions when covering sensitive issues such as red-tagging.
However, we also urge them to do so with utmost sensitivity and respect to individuals, groups and initiatives that have been the subjects of such vilification campaign.
As media practitioners, we should not be party or add credence to red-tagging campaigns that vilify human rights defenders, community organizers and even fellow journalists, and linking them to the armed communist movement.
The burden of proof should always lie on the accuser and hard questions on the evidence behind these accusations should be directed at the officials of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, the police and the military.
In getting to the truth of the story, we should be mindful of the risk our line of questioning would pose to our interview subjects.
That said, we are closing ranks with all journalists and recognize that there will always be differences in opinion on how stories are covered and that how questions are couched in interviews is no license for online abuse.
Reference:
National Directorate
+639175155991